The Portland daily press., 1887-11-19
ADVICE FOR BOYS.
Jay Gould and Russell Sage Give
some "Pointers" about Success.
IN. Y. Mail and Express.l

| ing made all his money himself, ne knows
| its true value, and score OF tlmes while en-
| gagged in big financial operations he has
| found it to be his best friend. In his home
| Mr.. Sage is one of the most delightful men.
| His home is a palace. All that money can do
| to make it comfortable has been done. In
| society he is as gallant as Chesterfield,
| and in the society of ladies he is as charming
| in manner as girl with her first beau. In
| his office he is quick and nervous. Occa-
| sionally he finds time to chat. / found him
| in such mood recently. The conversation
drifted from one thing TO another until final
| ly it came down to the chances young man
| has of getting on in the world.
''You have made millions of dollars, Mr..
| Sage" 1 said, " and there are thousands OF
| bU1s in this country who would be glad 10
hear word from you. Tell them how to
"Oh, Couldn't tell them anything that
| they don't KNOW" he replied.
"Well," | said "what chance has young
man, with nothing but brains and pluck, to
get on in the commercial woridT
With brains and pluck his chances are
very good" said Mr.. Sage, but with brains
pluck, honesty, tact and energy his chances
are better. With brains and pluck man
reach the top Of the heap sometimes the
heap Of stones IN Sing sing, but ne IS never .,t
sure of his position unless he possesses the
other qualities"
HAS he more Of an opportunity to rise in
a commercial than in professional lifeP"
Eyes, perhaps The richest men are the
v world, think. For every wealthy and IA
nous doctor, lawyer, artist, actor, author
and poet you may name, think that l can
name five OF. ten great men In commerce the
world over"
sometimes called "a pull, what is the best
way for him to begin?'
"By ~ getting position; ~ keeping his
mouth shut; (3) observing;(4 being faithful (;
be lost in the fog without him, and (6) to be
polite. That is good way for a young man
to begin, after he gets there. If he lives up
10 those rules he will not want a friend at
court for any length Of time, in fact, not at
ALL"
s'What sort of reading or study should he
engage in to gain the fundamental knowledge
of business methods p?
''The daily newspapers, morning and even
ing, especially the page, devoted to the mar
the best, and the only place to obtain it is in
some large business house."
''Name some of the books that you advise
young men to read and study"
The Bible. Dickens, Thackeray, Scott,
Charles Kingsley, Irving, Hawthorne, Byron,
Shakespeare, Balzac, Lew Wallace, Bret
| Harte, Longfellow, Emerson, Lowell, Ban
croft, Prescott, Parkman. Fielding, Smollet,
| Tennyson, Gibbon, Macaulay and Ruskin."
SIS it necessary or advisable for young
| successfully in commercial life?
"Why, no, college education rather units
a man to successfully follow commercial
life. The old Comm0d0re's son-in-law, Hor-
ace Clark, once said to him: What pity
that you didn't have a college education,
"'Yes?'" queried the old gentleman, with
a twinkle in bis eyes. :" believe, Horace,
that you had one" The point is, that Hor-
ace Clark was penniless when hemarried the
old gentleman's daughter. The smartest
man in Wall street never spent a day in
college,"
what qualities would you advise a stu
dent to keep ever in view to become great
and successful merchant or banker~
'To always represent things just as they
are to always keep faith; to never break a
promise-to, in word, live up to the golden
rule. To never say thing behind a man
back you would hesitate to say to his face.
To look for the good in men, not the bad. To
believe every man good until you know that
he is bad-and then make allowances"
"What one quality, has it been your expe-
rienee, is of more value than any other to a
business man?
"Oh, it is hard to answer that; man may
be honest-and yet foolish; may be very
smart-and yet dishonest !; may not be exactly
| dishonest, but trickey. That question is i'm
possible TO answer; As near as can get to
"Does a commercial life bring as many
laurels and emoluments as a professional Ca
reer?"
q do not think that it brings as many near
and dear friends, but it brings more money
And, after all, money brings friends, good,
bad and fair weather ones"
put about the same questions to Mr..
Gould. 1t was just before he started for
Europe. He was very busy and declared that
he didn't have time to go into the subject
prepared.
"Well." he said briskly, You want to
| know what chance would there be for the
success of young man whose only capital Is
| his brains, his only influence an energetic
| dispo siton, and his only friend strict integ-
rity of purpose? In New York his chances
are far less than they were forty years
| ago."
'Why do you say SOP"
First. there are many more persons with
| ability in New York to-day than there were
| forty years ago. This tends to produce both
| antagonism and competition. The young
| man finds those who are his mental equals
| in almost all stages of life. Then, with re-
| gard to temptations, the opportunities today
| for spending money are far more numerous
| and inviting. An age of extravaganza has
| sprung up,and young men are tempted 70 ex,
| pend money which they really cannot AFFORD
| on pleasures which would not have been
| thought Of forty years ago.
| "But suppose young man has strength OF
| mind enough to throw aside such so-ealled
| pleasures, devotes himself to business and
| employ his leasure moments in the improve
| ment of his mental quallficationS, Wnat
| chances has such q oneY
Where are you going to find such young
| men to day? They are extremely rare"
81 should think young man with those
/ qualifications and earnestness OF purpose
/ would succeed in time.
"What kind Of occupation would you think
| best fitted for him?'.
| "Any that might suit his fancy. He must
/ have a love for his employment first; then a
| devotion towards it strong enough to enable
| him to set all other things and passions aside
| his personal expenditures, and thrift"
| "Would YOU advise him to be niggardlyY'
.'My experience mas been that 1t Is very
| difficult to save the first $1,000 Young men
have no idea how soon they expend tha'
| sum in ways that could have been avoided
and for which there is no actual necessity
| Some call it pleasure for the young man just
| starting in life it is extravaganza. After a
| competence has been secured then expensive
| pleasures can be INDUCED in without regret.
The young man who would succeed must first
learn to put up. with some personal dlscom,
| fort, eschew all expensive companions and
pursuits, and find pleasure In hitting his
mind to combat with the obstacles that stand
| in the way of his success"
'Then there is chance for him even II
New York;" -.
| are better chances elsewhere, where there Il
less opposition and competition, for .younl
man of energy and brains without capital o.
influence. l would not discourage an indus
trious and energetic young man; but merely
point out the difficulties and dangers which
stand in the way of his success in this me
tropolis of America.
sWould you advise him to learn trade?
'Dy all means. Every man should be mas
ter of good trade"
what course of reading or study woul,
you suggestW
sLet him read the daily papers thoroughly
ANY man can familiarize himself with al
that is going on, and he can also get a goot
Books? Oh, any book that is good and wei
written and is clean and healthy. 1t is no
40 much the books we read as what we. re
member that does us good. Read anything
that comes to hand; Keep out OF bad com
pany and go to work with will. The bo
who does that is bound to get on in tn
! world"